Valve adjuster



Aug. 17 1926. 15965276 w. LANE VALVE ADJUSTER Filed May 15, 1926 wygsm Glitoznu,

Patented Au 17,. 1926.

UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LANE, or nnviron, onro.

VALVE ADJUSTER.

Application filed May 13, 1926. Serial 110. 108,844.

This invention relates to explosive engines and more particularly to adjustable tappets for the valve stems of puppet valves to enable the valve to beadjusted for etlicient operation and to compensate for wear.

While the present invention is applicable to the stems of puppet valves of various sizes and for different styles and types of motors, it has been especially designed to overcome the difliculty encountered inthe use of a popular make of low-priced automobile motors, which as furnished by the manufacturer has no provision for adjust ment, and no means for compensating for wear. In this particular style of motor, the valve stems are operated by push rods which are slightly greater in diameter than the p diameter of the valve stem. The constant.

repeated impact of the push rods upon the ends of the valve stems cause the push rods to be worn or swedged into concave form on their extremities, Within which concavities the ends of the valvestems continue to engage. To replace such push rods,'-necessitates dismantling the motor. T-heparticw lar type of popular motor referred to is so designed that there is but a ve limited space between the valve stem gui e or boss uponthe cylinder block, and the push rod or boss upon the engine frame. This space 1s insufficient to accommodate the usual type of adjustabletappet devices. Consequently, the adjusting means for the present adjustable tappet head is located interiorly of the valve spring. In the-present invention, there is contemplated an adjustable tappet head,- screw threaded upon the end of the valve ,stem,

Y and so.adjustable thereon to compensate for wear and to enable the proper adjustment ofthe' valve in relation with its seat; Thistappet head carries a peripheral flange or collar '11P011 which the valve spring abuts. The tappet head projects inwardly within the valve spring and is longitudinally split to enable its contraction upon .the screw.

threaded stem with which it is engaged.

-'The exterior of the split portion of thetap pet head is of tapered or conical formation and exteriorly threaded to receive a compression nut. Because 'of the. lack of space,

i this nut is arranged within and is surround ed withthe valve spring.

The object of the. invention is to simplify the construction as well as mode of operation of adjustabletappets for the means and en e valves and the like whereby they wi hot only be cheapened construction,

but will be more etficient in use, positivein operation, enable uniform action of the valves and unlikely to get out of repair.

lacement of push rods. 7

pear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combination thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as herein after described andset forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig.1 is a side elevation partly in. section of a portion of an automobile motor,'illustrating the puppet valves and actuating means therefor, to which the present invention has been applied. 2

is an enlarged sectional view of the adjust- .able tappet construction forming the subject matter hereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the adjustable tappet construction shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a top'plan, view thereof, with the valve stem in section.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters' of reference throughout theseveral views. x

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

cessity for dismantling the motor for re- With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully ap 1 indicates a portion of an automobile 'motor or the like, in which are .mounted, the puppet valves 2- -2. The puppet valves are provided with dependent valve stems 3 and are actuated in proper time by'reciprocatorygush rods 4 mounted in guides or bosses 5 an actuated b cams 6 upon a rotary cam shaft. TSurroun g the dependent stems 3 of the valves are retracting springs "Z, by which the valves are returned to their, seats,

and against the resistance. of which valves are lifted the goperation of the As furnishedby' :thethe presenttime, the reciprocatory push rod 4 has direct contact with the end of the valve stem 3 for lifting the valve from the seat. As the end of the push rod 4 wears through long use, the relation of the valve 2 with the seat changes. The present invention is intended to provide means for compensating for wear and forenabling the proper adjustment of the valves-in relation with the seats for efiicient operation.

To this end, the valve stems 3 are somewhat shortened and threaded throughout a portion of their length as at 8 Screw threaded upon this extremity of the valve stem 3 is a tappet head 9, carrying a peripheral flange or collar 10 upon which the retracting spring abuts. The collar or flange 10 may be. formed integral with the tappet head 9, but is preferably independently formed b stamping and rests upon a peripheral s oulder 11 formed upon the tappet head 9. The portion of the tappet head 9 projecting beyond the flange or collar 10 and within the retracting spring 7 is somewhat tapered or of conical formation and is interiorly threaded for engagement with the screw threads 8 of the valve stem, and

is also exteriorly threaded for engagement.

of a compression or lock nut 12. This threaded conical portion of the tappet "head 9 is longitudinally slotted at 13, to permit the contraction or compression of this threaded tapered portion of the tappet head upon the t readed portion 8 of the valve stem under the influence of the lock nut 12..

The lock or compression nut 12 is thus located within and surrounded by the retractlng spring 7, and is accessible for adjust ment between the successive turns or convolutions of the spring. The lower portion of the tappet head 9 beyond the flange or collar 10 is formed with flat: surfaces, or is preferably square toreceive a wrench or spanner to enable the rotation of the tappet head to adjust it upon its threaded connection with the valve stem to increase or de- V crease the effective length of the valve stem as' maybe necessary. This adjustment can be affected only by first releasing the lock or compression nut 12.: In order that the valvev stein 3 may be held against rotation during ad ustment of the tappet/head 9, the stem is preferably provided with a hole 14 at a mid-length point, through which a tool or wire may be thrust to hold the valve and its stem while the tappet head is being rotated thereon. -When the adjustment has, been completed, the tappet head is again locked by the tighteningof the lock or compression nut 12 upon the threaded conical portion of such head 9, thereby again compressing the split portion of the head into tightsecure engagement with the threaded-portion 8 of the valve stem. 1

It will bethus seen that the tappet may which the spring tappet head come worn or battered at their ends is entirely obviated. One of the important features of the invention particularly as applied to the popular form of motor mentioned,

wherein the spacebetweenthe valve stem I guides and ush rods is quite limited, is that a considera le portion of the added adjust-- ing feature and the lock nut therefor are located wholly within the retracting spring, so that the full length of the original spring may be utilized and yet the adjusting device applied within the limited range afforded in the particular motor construction.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the'character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as'desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of" parts without de arting from the principle mvolved or sacri cing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute fect and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, I

claim: '1. In a valve adjuster of the character described, the combination with a screw threaded valve stem, and a helical valve spring surrounding the stem, an adjusting member screw'threaded upon the valve. stem, and projecting within the spring, a spring seat collar carried by the adjusting member upon abuts and a lock nut en closed within an surrounded by said spring and by its adjustment securing the adjusting member in its adjusted relation with the valve stem. I

2. In av valve adjuster for puppet valves, the combination with a valve stem, ahelical spring surroundingthe valve stem, of a tappet head adj ustable upon said stem, and projecting within said spring, an abutment collar for the valve spring'carried bythe tappet head, and locking means for securing the hits adjuste d position uponthe stem, said locking means being enclosed within and surrounded by the valve spring. 3. In a valve adjuster for puppet valves,

' the combination with a valve stem, a; helical spring surrounding the valve stem; of a tappet head adjustable upon said stem, and proecting within said spring, an abutment collar for the valve spring carried by the tappet head, said tappet head being exteriorly threaded and longitudinally split and a lock nut threaded upon the longitudinally split portion of the tappet head for contracting the head upon the stem in its adjusted position, said lock nut being located within and surrounded b said spring.

4. In a vave adjuster for puppet valves, the combination with a screw threaded valve stem, andva helical spring surrounding the stem, of a tappet head having screw threaded engagement with the valve stem and adjustable thereon, said tappet head being ex.

nut engaging the tapered threaded portion of the tappet head and enclosed within and surrounded by said spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day. of May .A. D. 1926.

WILLIAM LANE. 

